Police on hunt for arson suspect who struck cop

The Suffolk County Police are on the hunt for a 24-year-old Jamesport man who allegedly set fire to his girlfriend’s Brentwood apartment and struck a police officer with his vehicle as he fled, according to a police press release.

Manuel DeLeon Cuellar broke into his girlfriend’s apartment at 2 a.m. Thursday, police said. He allegedly assaulted the woman and set fire to the apartment, police said. As he fled the scene, he struck a Third Precinct officer with a Chevrolet pickup truck and then crashed the truck a short distance away, police said. He fled on foot and police are asking the public’s help to find him, police said.

The woman and officer were treated for non-life threatening injuries, police said.

Mr. Cuellar is described as Hispanic, 5-foot-9, 175 pounds with brown eyes, black hair and a beard. He was last seen wearing a black jacket and white checkered shirt. Police said he may be armed with a knife.

Anyone with information is asked to call 911, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS or the Third Precinct at 631-854-8352.